Posted on 10/22/2005 12:23:06 PM PDT by achristianman
THE GIFT THAT COULD GIVE WORLD PEACE
Awhile back I started thinking about Jesus.
It started partly because Id met someone who seemed to know what Jesus is all about. And also- about that time I was visiting my sister and Jesus always seems to be present around her. Then too, Jesus birthday was coming and it all led me to look further into His story and of course that took me to the Bible.
When I was a kid I was pretty religious. Went to Church every Sunday, attended Sunday school and sang in the choir. I remember those times as good fun and happy days with lots of social functions, most of them built around the Church and Church activities.
But I never really got into the Bible very much except for memorizing all those Books and learning about Adam and Eve and sin and the Ten Commandments. I dont think I ever really learned what a Christian was, although I did have a liking for Jesus.
During my high school and university years I pretty well put the Church and religion and the Bible on the back burner. Then I was too busy earning a living to give any of it much thought.
Over the course of my career I met so many religious charlatans like Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggert and saw so much fighting and bloodshed in the name of religion, I pretty well rejected it out of hand. But I never forgot my admiration for Jesus and his radical nature. And in my recent second look at the Bible, I was even more impressed.
Jesus rebellion against authority and the rules of his elders appeals to me a lot. I like the way he tipped over the tables of the money changers who were desecrating the temple and how he comforted the prostitute when the others all wanted to stone her to death. I like the way he defended the poor and the sick, the hungry and the helpless. I liked the way he forgave the men who found joy in killing Him.
Most of all though, I liked what I finally concluded was Jesus main message. Spread the love around. (Just like John Lennon, I thought). Over and over he calls on all people to love one another. Love thy neighbour as thyself, He said. Love your enemy he also said. For Jesus, that was the second most important Commandment, after loving God.
He makes it very clear that all of us are supposed to love the poor, the sick, the naked, and the hungry. He teaches that the last shall be first. That a rich man trying to get into Heaven is like a camel trying to get through the eye of the needle. His whole teaching is based on the over-riding principle of love.
Universal Love.
This Christmas lets give gifts. But lets also give some Love.
.
...and then...
...there is the kind of LOVE that sacrifices everything on behalf of others:
911 Lifesaving Hero RICK RESCORLA
http://www.RickRescorla.com
http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361
.
TROLL
"BTW Jesus never promised world peace."
Aren't whirled peas are Kosher?
That is pure genius!!!
Individuals are supposed to love everyone.
Nations are supposed to protect themselves. That means we have to protect ourselves from people who AREN'T christians.
"This Christmas lets give gifts."
I bring theee... FIRE!
"But lets also give some Love."
I also bring you news: You have an incurable STD.
LOL! I love it!
I would be more than happy to let our enemies see the light... 150 times brighter than the sun.
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